Toy



P. A. DERHAM Oct. 24, 1961 TOY 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 5, 1955INVENTOR.

- PHIL/P I). 05mm BY flTTaeNEX Manufacturing Co., Philadelphia, Pa., acorporation of Delaware Filed June 3, 1955, Ser. No. 512,955 4 Claims.(Cl. 46-221) The present invention relates to a certain new and usefultoy, and it relates more particularly to a pull toy simulating someanimate or inanimate object, whose simulated body is formed in sections,with the sections interconnected by a helical spring.

An object of the present invention is a pull toy whose sections aremounted on wheels and whose wheels are so arranged as to cause thesections to move in an undulating path, when the toy is pulled.

Other objects of the present invention will appear more fully from thefollowing description and accompanying drawings.

In the accompanying drawings in which like reference characters indicatelike parts:

FIGURE 1 represents a perspective view of a pull toy embodying thepresent invention.

FIGURE 2 represents another perspective view of the same.

FIGURE 3 represents an elevational view of one of the intermediateWheeled body sections.

FIGURE 4 represents a perspective view of the same, with the wheelsremoved.

FIGURE 5 represents a side elevational view, on an enlarged scale, ofone of the wheel-bearing arms of a body section. 1

FIGURE 6 represents a view on line 6--6 of FIG- URE 5.

FIGURE 7 represents a view on line 7-7 of FIG- URE 5.

FIGURES 8 and 9 represent vertical cross-section views through the bodysections, namely, the head section and one of the intermediate bodysections (FIG- URE 8) and the tail section and one of the body sections(FZGURE 9) of the pull toy shown in FIGURES 1 an 2.

A plurality of similar body-sections designated generally by the numeral10 are formed as annular or otherwise shaped thin-walledinjection-molded or otherwise molded or cast or formed plastic shells,as indicated particularly in FIGURES 3, 4 and 8. These similar bodysections are designated in FIGURES 1, 2 and 8 as 10a, 10b, 10c and 10d.Each of these body sections 10 is generally tubular. In the particularembodiment'shown, where the toy is in the form of a caterpillar, thesesections are generally cylindrical. Outwardly and downwardly extendingleg-like brackets 11 are provided on each side of the body sections ormembers 10 for supporting a pair of wheels 12 and a pair of wheels 13,to be described more fully hereinafter.

To the frontmost body section or member 10a a head member 14 may beapplied, either by being integrally cast or moldled therewith or bybeing separately formed and then applied thereto by fusion under theinfluence of a solvent, cement or heat, according to the nature of theplastic used. To the rearmost body section or member 19d a terminalmember 15 may be similarly applied.

Each of the body sections 10 is provided with inwardly-extending sets ofspring-engaging projections 16, 17 and 18; two such sets being providedat each end of the section, with the sets at one end being staggered inrelation to the sets at the other end as indicated in FIG- URES 3, 4 and8.

In each set of projections 16, 17 and 18, one of the nited rates Patent0 projections, namely, projection 17 is at the edge or end of thesection while theother two projections 16 and 18, of each set, arespaced slightly inwardly and staggered in relation to the projection 17;the axial spacing between the projection 17 on the one hand and theprojections 16 and 18 on the other hand (of each set) being such as tofrictionally bind against the sides of the convolution 19 of the flathelical spring 20 when the terminal convolution or convolutions arethreaded between the projeection 17 on the one hand and 16 and 18 on theother, hand of the two sets of such projections at the end of the bodysection, in the manner indicated in FIG- URE 8.

The helical springs 20 are formed generally of a flatcross-sectionribbon of spring steel or the like in the manner indicated. Thesesprings may be generally of the form in which the successiveconvolutions bear against each other with a substantial positivecontact-force or contact-pressure, so that when the spring is in repose,namely, when there is no axial pull on the spring, the

successive convolutions will abut each other, throughout,

with a substantial force. By this reverse pressure between convolutionsof the coil spring, the portions of the toy made up of the springs, willhave a solid appearance and will tend to remain solid until asubstantial pull is applied to the toy endwise. This reverse force orreverse pressure is imparted to the spring during the coiling of thespring, in the manufacture thereof, namely, by adjusting the angle ofthe feed of the fiat wire to the coiling instrumentality ofthespring-making machine, so that the wire approaches the coil at an anglesomewhat less than with the pitch-line of the closed coil (in a mannerwell known in the spring-making art).

Thus, the springs are represented in FIGURES 1, 2 and 8 in theirposition when distended by an axial force applied to successive bodysections 10 of the toy. The springs are so represented in these figuresfor purposes of illustration. It is to be understood however that whenthe toy is not manipulated but when the successive sections are in axialalignment with each other and there is no pull tending to spread thesprings or stretch the springs, the successive convolutions of thespring will be in a position with a substantial force between successiveconvolutions urging them towards each other.

Each of the leg-like brackets 11 is preferably formed of a curved anddownwardly inclined web 11a and generally vertical web 11b formedintegrally therewith and the two preferably formed integral with themain body portion of the section It). The lower bearing flange of theleg 11 is provided with oppositely offset complementary bearing flanges21a and 21b, preferably former. integrally with the flange 110. Betweenthe flange 11c and the offset bearing flanges 21a and 21b round bearingopenings 22 are formed, open towards their lower ends 'as indicated inFIGURES 4, 5 and 6 with a slightly outwardly flaring entrance slot 23leading to the bearing relation to the resiliency of the flanges 21a and21b that the shafts 25 can be forced into the bearing openings 22,through the entrance slots 23 by slightly spreading the legs 21 whilethe shaft 25 passes the narrowest part 24 of the entrance opening 25.Then the flanges 21 snap back into place and the shafts 25 are thus heldwithin the bearing openings 22.

same shaft) being slightly greater than the axial distance across thecentral flange 11c and one of the complementary flanges 21, as indicatedin FIGURE 6, so that each shaft, with its pair of wheels, may also moveaxially to and fro within its bearing 22, while the toy is being pulled.

By applying a pull-string 26 to the front member 14, the toy may bepulled along the ground. In being so pulled, the springs 28a, 20b and200 will alternately stretch and contract according to the variations inpull and the lag of the rearward sections, and because of the ofisettingof the pairs of wheels 1'2 'in'rel'ation to the pairs of wheels 13, andthe radially and axially loose support given by the bearings 22 to theshafts 25, the pairs of wheels 12 and 13 will wobble and change theircourse, instead of tracking each other, so that the successive sectionswill follow each other in an undulating or snake like fashion ratherthan in a straight-line pattern.

The successive sections a, 10b, 10c and 10d are connected by the springs28a, 20b and 200 as indicated in FIGURES 1, 2 and 8 either by merelythreading the last convolution of each spring between the projections16, 17 and 18, in the manner indicated, and retained thereinfrictionally, or the innermost end of the sothreaded terminalconvolution may be bent over slightly so as to prevent the spring frombeing unthreaded from the'projections 16, 17 and 18.

If desired, a tail 27 may be applied to the tail section 15, asindicated in FIGURES 1, 2 and 9.

If desired, two turns or convolutions of the coil '20 may be'insertedbetween the lugs 16, 17 and 18, as indicated particularly in respect tospring 20a,(FIGURE 8) intermediate the body sections 10a and 10b, so asto obtain a more secure attachment between the spring and the bodysection.

If desired, the head section 14 as well as the tail section 15 may beformed (i.e. injection-molded or otherwise formed) separately from thebody sections 10a and 1012, respectively, or they may be formed integraltherewith.

If formed separately they may be permanently affixed to their adjoiningbody sections either by abutting them thereagainst or by telescopingthem slightly into the body section, as indicated in FIGURES 8 and 9,respectively. If abutting them, the sections are united by solvent orcement, depending upon the nature of the plastic of which the sectionsare formed. If telescoping them, with slightly smaller-diameteredportions 14x and 15x, as shown in FIGURES 8 and 9, a solvent or cementmay likewise be used, more permanently to secure the sections, althoughfriction may be relied upon by tight fit between the telescope portions.

While in the foregoing description and in the accompanying drawings aspecific embodiment of the present invention is described and shown, itis to be understood that variations within the scope of and comprehendedby the claims are intended to be included as embodiments of the presentinvention.

Having described the invention, the following is claimed:

i 1. In a pull toy, a body section having two oppositebearing-extensions, each including a pair of axially offset and spacedapart bearing-openings, and a pair of wheels and a shaft common theretoloosely journaled in each of said bearing-openings both in axial andradial rela- V tionship thereto; the pair of wheels so journaledin the"bearing-openings of :each bearing-extension being axially offset inrelation to each other; the offsetting of one pair on opposite sidesbeing in the same direction with respect to the other pair on oppositesides.

2. A toy including a wheel-bearing extension on each side thereof, eachof said Wheel-bearing extensions having two bearings, one behind theother and in axially oflfset relation to each other and wheels mountedin said bear ings in axially offset relation to each other, the axialoffsetting of said bearings and wheels of one wheel-bearing extensionbeing in the same direction as that of the other wheel-bearingextension, so that the front wheels will be axially offset in relationto the rear wheels inthe same direction on both wheel-bearingextensions.

3. A toy including a wheel-bearing member on each side thereof, each ofsaid wheel-bearing members having two bearings, one behind the other andin axially offset relation to each other and wheels mounted in saidbearings in axially offset relation to each other, the axial offsettingof said bearings and wheels of one wheelbearing member being in the samedirection as that of the other wheel-bearing member, so that the frontwheels will be axially offset in relation to the rear wheels in the samedirection on both wheel-bearing extensions.

4. A wheeled toy including a pair of hearings on each I side thereof,the hearings on each side being disposed fore and aft in relation toeach other, each bearing being formed of a resilient but form-retainingmaterial and having an opening facing downwardly which breaks the.

continuity of the bearing surface, the portion of each bearing on eachside of its down-faced opening being ofiset in relation to each other,in an axial direction, the front half of the forward bearing and therear half of the rear bearing being offset in opposite directions inrelation to each other, and the rear half of the forward bearing and thefront half of the rear bearing being in substantial alignment with eachother.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,552,314 Kohl Sept. 1; 1925' 1,599,947 Bishop Sept. 14, 1926 1,604,206Tilton Oct. 26, 1926 1,745,232 Richter Ian. 28, 1930 1,788,798 LesotJan. 13, 1931 1,956,342 Brubaker Apr. 24, 1934 2,133,771 McLane Oct. 18,1938 2,232,615 Kupka Feb. 18, 1941 2,415,012 James Ian. 28, 19472,471,722 Campbell May 31, 1949 2,540,317 Baggott Feb. 6, 1951 2,568,374Thomas Sept. 18, 1951 2,641,865 Gowland June 16, 1953 2,738,617 CapehartMar. 20, 1956 2,778,159 Irwin Ian. 22, 1957 2,862,330 Malsed Dec. 2,1958 FOREIGN PATENTS 628,755 France July 5, 1927 661,195 France Mar. 4,1929 614,569 Great Britain Dec. 17, 1948'

